WASHINGTON
- Last week, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., teamed up with Rep. Charles Boustany,
R-Lafayette, on legislation to keep two Veterans Administration health centers
operating in south Louisiana. Now, Boustany has announced he won't
challenge Landrieu in 2014, when the senator seeks a 4th Senate term.

"While Congressman Boustany is honored to have been encouraged to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, he remains dedicated to the 3rd Congressional District of South Louisiana," said spokesman Neal Patel. "He was humbled to receive so much support from across the state."

Patel said that his tenure on the House Ways and Means Committee "allows Congressman Boustany to focus on issues important to Louisiana ranging from trade, to comprehensive tax reform, to health care. He looks forward to continue representing South Louisiana on Capitol Hil."

That still leaves a fairly large field of potential GOP opponents for Landrieu, who lately has been scoring fairly well in political polls.

Still giving consideration to running for the Senate are Louisiana Republican Reps. Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge and John Fleming of Minden. Also getting some encouragement, particularly from Tea Party Republicans, is former Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, who lost to Boustany in last December's run-off for the 3rd Congressional District.

Boustany and Landry were thrown into the same district after Louisiana lost a House seat following tepid population growth in the 2010 Census.

Fleming is now considered the most conservative member of a very conservative Louisiana congressional delegation. But lately, Cassidy has been voting with the conservative wing of the GOP more frequently, including a no vote on extension of the Violence Against Women Act. He argued the bill, drafted by the Senate, threatened religious independence.

Also weighing a run for the Senate is Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne.